AB-500 Re-codifying Wisconsin's Navigable Waters law

Support: this bill was never scheduled for a vote

AB-500 would recodify Wisconsin's navigable waters law (Chapter 30). This bill makes essential provisions of Wisconsin's water law far more accessible to Wisconsin citizens.

Much of Wisconsin's water law is grounded in the Public Trust Doctrine (Article IX of the Wisconsin State Constitution) and decisions made by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Some of these decisions have been codified into the State Statutes where citizens can find them with relative ease, but many have not.

Most of the bill is technical, aimed at codifying court cases, and improving organization and consistency. But it includes provisions that will help standardize water law terms and methodologies to help ensure a more consistent administration of public water regulations. This bill would also expand local and county authority to regulate boating and include the definition of navigable (public) waters in the state statutes.

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes were active members of the Special Legislative Council Committee charged with rewriting Wisconsin's navigable waters law (Chapter 30). We support this legislation.